Hands Free Life: 9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, & Loving More (Zondervan, 2015) is an inspirational lifestyle guide written by Rachel Macy Stafford. Click here to order your copy.
I love to read. Curling up with a good book and a cup of tea is one of the best things in life. Like, ever.
And while I have many favorites that have had a great impact on me, I’ve found that there are few books with the power to truly change your life.
Hands Free Life is one of them.
My Hands Free Discovery
I discovered Rachel Macy Stafford while researching the market for my forthcoming book, Live Joyous Mommyhood. I came across her New York Times bestseller Hands Free Mama and picked up a copy.
I was instantly hooked.
Her book and blog (Hands Free Mama) so perfectly aligned with my core values and how I want to live; I felt like The Universe was speaking to me.
So when Rachel asked me to review her new release, Hands Free Life, I was honored… and a little scared.
Why scared?
Because I already knew what was about to happen. And that I was going to have some changin’ to do.
About Hands Free Life
In Hands Free Life, Rachel shares nine habits to live a more fulfilled life.
Throughout the book, she shares personal essays that paint the picture of how important it is to live distraction-free. Also included are Hands Free Life Daily Declarations and Hands Free Life Habit Builders that take your hand and guide you along the hands free journey.
Hands Free Life challenges us to be present in our lives.
To intentionally seek to be more connected to the people that matter the most – our children, significant others, family, friends, community.
To let go of the thousands of to-do’s and remove ourselves from all the screens of various sizes.
As a current former control freak, I realize how important it is to let go and just live. It’s not easy. But it’s so worth it.
Straight From The Page
There are so many great reminders in this book, but this is definitely one of my favorites:
And what’s more is that you can start keeping track of life anytime, anywhere, at any age–despite what happened yesterday.
In fact, you can start right now.
Push away doubts–especially the one questioning if life’s too far gone to ever be retrieved.
Silence the inner critic–the one who says you are too flawed, too distracted, too damaged to ever be worthy of a fulfilling life.
Dismiss the inner drill sergeant, the perfectionist, the control freak, and the frantic rusher-those whose relentless demands sabotage and change of meaningful connection in the blur of a frenzied day.
Life is meant to be lived
not managed,
not controlled,
not screamed,
not stressed,
not hurried,
not guilt-ridden,
not regretted,
not scripted,
not consumed by distractions, big or small, obvious or subtle.
Why You Should Get Your Copy
What I love most about Rachel’s writing is the encouragement. When reading Hands Free Life, I felt like I was chatting with a friend. Someone who understood my struggles and could relate in every way.
Being a mom, and juggling all the demands of motherhood – and life – can be daunting. It’s downright overwhelming at times. Hands Free Life offers the encouragement you need. To see a better way. To follow a roadmap as you seek to bring more love, grace, and connection into your life.
You need to read this book. Even if you don’t realize it yet.
Grab your copy today and join me in the Hands Free Revolution!
About Rachel Macy Stafford
Rachel Macy Stafford is a New York Times bestselling author and certified special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in education. A few years ago, this life-‐long writer felt compelled to share her journey to let go of distraction and grasp what really matters by creating what became the tremendously popular blog Hands Free Mama. Using her skills as a writer, teacher, and encourager, Rachel provides readers with simple, non-‐intimidating, and motivating methods to let go of distraction and connect with their loved ones. Rachel lives in the South with her husband and two children who inspire her daily. She has been featured on “Good Morning America,” The Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, TIME, MSN, Reader’s Digest, and more. For more information, visit www.handsfreemama.com.
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Disclosure Statement: I received a complimentary advanced reading copy of Hands Free Life for the purposes of this review. However, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. Please view my disclosure policy for more information.
Comments 32
Thanks for sharing, but self-help books are not for me.
Thank you for sharing this great book. I have also been reading my Bible lately to improve myself and to know my Savior on a more personal note. I can’t tell you how great this has been for me. Thank you so much for sharing
I need to read this book! I love that last quote from the book. Sounds like a great read.
Oh, I love this! Sounds like a really insightful book! Thanks for sharing!
This will be a great book for me. I have to get this soon. Thank you for sharing
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great book. 🙂
sounds like a great book! thanks for sharing
Thanks for the review – it sounds like a great book!
This sounds like the perfect book for me right now. I need something like this.
This books sounds perfect for me. I love books that help improve who I am and how I do things. I am a work in progress. Thank you so much for sharing
This sounds like a great inspirational book, thanks for the recommendation!
Such a great review, Carin! It seems like everything I expected it to be… I’m really looking forward to reading it!!
Get ready to inspire. Nice
Great article. I learn alot 🙂
Sound like a good book. Thank you for sharing.
That sounds like an insightful yet inspiring book! I will definitely have to read it sometime.
I should probably print out that excerpt of ‘Life is meant to be lived..”. That would make the best motivation on an office wall.
This sounds like a really wonderful book. I need to work on some things in life and one of them is healing from the past and just really living life.
This sounds like a book I need to get. I’ve been slowly over the past few years changing my “controlling” self and needing everything to be perfect. Thanks for sharing this inspirational book.
I love the reminders that you’ve shared from that book. I totally agree that life is meant to be lived. I would love to read that book.
This sounds awesome and like a book I could really use right now. I will have to check it out. Sounds like it would really be worth it.
What a great book! I love reading so I’m going to add to my book list. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with everything i have to do and I need to remind myself to take it one day at a time. One task at a time.
I love what it says about life. I wish we can live life without stress, that would be awesome!
I need this book. I need to stop letting doubt and complacency keep me from having the life I want. Life is meant to be lived!
Interesting, I’ve never heard of this book before. Always looking for new things to read, so thanks for the review!
This sounds like an interesting read indeed and a great self help book I might add. I have just started reading self help books the past couple of years and this one will have to get. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds like the perfect book for me right now. I will have to go and get a copy to read this weekend.
This could be the book that came into my life at the right time. I do not want to be a slave of deadlines and stress! Thank you for the review. I will get a copy too.
This looks like my kind of book! I can be a bit of a control freak and sometimes when I look at my blogging calendar, I tend to stress over all the deadlines. I have to make myself calm down, take a few deep breaths and remind myself that blogging is fun. 🙂 I have to read this ASAP. Thanks for the review.
I love pieces that focus on empowering the reader to be better and to do better. This sounds wonderful.
Oh my goodness, you have brought me to TEARS! I cannot believe the beautiful things you are saying about my book! This touches me deeply! To know that you felt encouraged and hopeful means everything. That is my greatest wish for the book. Thank you for the time, effort, energy, and LOVE you have offered me by reading and reviewing my book in such a meaningful way. I am incredibly grateful. I look forward to sharing this on my blog this week so my community can discover you too!
Author
I’m so honored to introduce my audience to you and your work. It’s completely my pleasure. THANK YOU so much for all that you do to help us stay grounded in the things that really matter. I truly appreciate being introduced to your community and being a part of the Hands Free Revolution!
xoxo
Carin